Overview
This review evaluates the Coconut app, an AI-powered note-taking tool for students and meetings, covering its features, pricing, pros, cons, and alternatives.
App Availability and Setup
- Coconut is available on iOS, Android, and as a web app.
- The app requires account setup and presents an aggressive paywall shortly after registration.
- Pricing is approximately £129/year or £12–13/month for the basic plan.
Core Features
- Transcribes recorded sessions and provides summaries and breakdowns.
- Allows bookmarking during recording, personal note entry, editing, translating, and downloading recordings.
- Includes a chat function for interacting with transcribed notes.
- Users can share notes and export flashcards to Anki.
Student-Focused Tools
- Flashcards feature converts key points into study cards with active recall support.
- Built-in quiz generator for self-assessment.
- Study games included, though some are only loosely relevant.
Additional Features
- Speed up, replay, and view full transcripts from sessions.
- Option to create video (with a basic visual style) or podcast versions of notes.
- Web app enables uploading YouTube videos, PDFs, text, and audio for summarization.
Usability and Design
- The app receives frequent notifications and is dependent on transcript quality.
- Design is considered unattractive and some features feel randomly added.
- Heavy reliance on in-app reminders and notifications.
Pricing and Value
- The current price is considered high compared to competitors.
- No clear information on differentiation between free and paid plans.
- Alternatives like Recall AI and RemNote offer similar features at lower or free price points.
Overall Assessment
- Despite a high App Store rating and substantial user base, the reviewer finds the app overvalued for its price.
- Recommended only if priced lower; as it stands, better value is available from other apps.
Recommendations / Advice
- Explore alternatives such as Recall AI and RemNote for similar features at a more reasonable cost.
- Consider Coconut only if future updates improve value or the price decreases.